Baking A Cake

Yesterday my 12 year old baked her first cake; I gave in
after weeks of begging. She completed her first quarter of Family Consumer
Science this past school year and believes she can bake or cook anything. When
I was in school this class was called Home Economics, what's with the change?
Perhaps adding the word Science is thought to attract boys, who knows.

Anyway, things were going well for my baking daughter. The
yellow sheet cake came from the oven nice and golden and not burned like my
first attempt at a cake, but it went downhill for her from there. She hollered
to me she was going to make the icing and I said okay. I figured she was going
to do traditional icing, but I should have known better; she chose an egg white
based icing. I've always had trouble with making the stiff peaks and when I
come into the kitchen there she is with a sad look on her face. She explained
and I couldn't help it, I giggled. She finally gave up and covered the cake in
the semi soupy mixture, which tasted fine over the cake. It looked a little
sloppy, but not bad for a first attempt. The main event was when she cut the
cake and took her first bite. I was sitting in the family room watching TV when
I heard her say, "YUCK!" I could see the disappointment on her face and
tried to console her with the story of my first cake, but it didn't help. I
thought it couldn't be that bad, because it looked okay, but when I took a
small bite it was all I could do to swallow. It was heavy and tasted a little
bitter, my guess is she forgot to add something, but I'm not sure what. Her
response was she should stick to cookies and brownies. She'll try again; I'll
just pay closer attention next time.

I'm still waiting for Chester's biopsy results. I'm
heartened by his actions though, he still eats with gusto and does his potty
outside and scrambles to his feet at the mere sight of his leash, only now I
carry his leash and let him walk freely. I'm not big on off leash walking
because most people can't control their dogs, but Chester is 16, laid back and
not the runner he was a few years ago thanks to his arthritis. But he seems to
enjoy his walks more off leash and I want him to get the most out of the time
he has left.

Training classes aren't going as well this time around with
Wyatt and it's mostly my fault because I've been lax in working him. Josie is
doing okay, but she should be doing better too. I haven't quite found the
balance of working two young dogs. It takes twice the time and with my kids
home I have twice the young ones to watch over. This week I am supposed to go
to class with Wyatt and have a new trick for him to do and I am not having any
success getting him to bow or pray. I'll keep plugging away, eventually he'll
get it.